Sheathing-applying device



Aug. 31 1926.

F.BOCK

SHEATHING APPLYING DEVICE 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1924 I H .L

Aug. 31, 1926.

F. BOCK SHEATHING APPLYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNETED STATES FRANK BOOK, OF I-IEGEVISCH, ILLINOIS,

.ASSIGNOB 'I'O PRESSED STEEL CAR COM- IPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHEATHING-APPLYING- DEVICE.

Application filed December This invention relates to the building of railway box cars, and has for an object the provision of a device whereby the sheathing of such cars may be quickly, cheaply and efficiently applied with a minimum amount of labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for forcing the .sheathing boards being applied to a railway car into close relation with each other and at the same time into close relation with the superstructure framing of the car. A further object of the invention is to provide fluid pressure means for forcing the sheathing boards being applied to a railway car into close relation with each other in a direction longitudinal of the car, and pressure means for forcing such boards into close relation with the superstructure framing of the car, transversely thereof, as they are moved longitudinally.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like-parts, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a. part of the sheathing applying device, a portion of the side and floor of a railway box car being shown in dot and dash lines; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the same, a portion of the box car being shown in cross section; Fig. l is an enlarged detail side elevational view of a fluid pressure means and cross head of the device; Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the same, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig.4, a portion of the side sheathing of the box car being shown to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a platform which is supported by members 2 or other suitable means in an elevated position at a height substantially midway between the top and bottom of the side wall 3 of a box car 4. This platform is positioned adjacent the track rails and is preferably of a length equal to or greater than the length of the car, and opposite the side door opening, which is provided in the side wall of the car, and on each side of the transverse center line of the car, a fluid pressure motor is provided which comprises a cylinder 5 which is mounted on members 6 slidably 2, 1924. Serial No. 753,478.

mounted in guide members 7. lVithin the cylinder there is a piston 8 having a. piston rod 9, the outer end of such rod having a cross head 10 secured thereto. At one end, the cylinder 5 is provided with a port 11 and at the opposite end is provided with a port 12, which ports are connected with two of the ports of a fourway valve 13 through the medium of pipes 14 and 15. The third port of the valve is connected with the fluid pressure supply through the medium of a flexible pipe 16 while the remaining port is adapted to be opened to the atmosphere.

The cross head 10 comprises a vertically disposed bar 17 having its ends provided with grooves 18 in which the tongue 19 of a sheathing board 20is adapted to fit. Adja: cent the lower end of the cross head and on each side thereof a guide member 21 is secured. The outer end portions of these members 21 diverge outwardly and extend some distance beyond the bar 17. Adjacent the upper end of the cross head and on one side thereof a similar guide member 21 is secured. This end portion also has a handle 22 secured thereto. The guide members 21 are for the purpose of insuring the proper engagement of the side sheathing by the cross head while the handle 22 is for the operators use in .positioningthe cross head preparatory to its engagement with the sheathing.

The cylinder 5 is slidably mounted on the. platform to move in a direction transversely thereof in such a manner that the cross head will be moved into or out of the vertical plane of the side wall sheathing of a car. For the purpose of moving the fluid pressure motor back and forth a hand lever 23 is provided the lower end of which is fulcrumed to the platform. Intermediate its ends one end of each of the links 24 ispivotally connected, the opposite end of such links being connected with the cylinder 5.

In advanceof the fluid pressure motor,

pressure bars 25 are provided which are mounted on members 26 slidably mounted in members 27, preferably secured to the underside of the platform. These members are adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the side wall sheathing boards of the car. For the purpose of moving the pressure bars, levers 28 are provided which intermediate their ends are fulcrumed sure b rs through the medium of members 30. The inner ends of these members are pivotally connected with the lever 28 above the lower end thereof and the outer ends diverge outwardly and are secured to the pressure bar 25. Above the platform the upper portion of the lever 23 is provided with teeth 31 which are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 32 pivotally connected with the members 29. This pawl is adapted to lock the lever 23 and pressure bar 25 in their proper operative positions.

When it is desired to tighten side sheathing being applied to the superstructure of a railway box car, the operation of the device is as follows: the sheathing boards. which are preferably tongued and grooved, are first placed along the side of the car, the levers 28 are then moved to the position as shown in Fig. 3 thus causing the pressure bars to be moved into close engagementwith the sheathing boards and the sheathing boards in turn into close contact with the superstructure framing. As the lever is thus moved the pawls 32 will engage with the teeth 31 on the levers and will lock the pressure bars in close contact with the sheathing boards. The operator now moves the lever 23 to the position as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, which causes the fluid pressure motor to move to the position as shown in dot and dash lines in this figure and in Fig. 1. In this position the cross head will be in the same vertical plane as the sheathing boards. The operator by the use of the handle 22 pulls the piston and piston rod forward until the tongue 19 of the last sheathing board extends into the groove 18 formed in the cross head, at which time he opens the valve 13, thus admitting pressure to the cylinder through the port 11 which caused the piston rod and cross head to move forward. As the piston moves forward the air in front of it is forced through the port 12 in the cylinder, pipe 15, and valve 13 to the atmosphere. As the cross head moves forward the sheathing boards are forced close together, and are held against outward movement by the pressure bars 25. After the sheathing boards have been forced to their proper positions and while the pressure of the motor and pres sure bars is retained against them, they are nailed or otherwise secured to the superstructure framingof the car, after which the fourway valve is operated to admit pressure into the cylinder in front of the piston which forces the piston inwardly thus withdrawing the cross head from the sheathing. The operator then moves the lever 23 in the direction indicated by the arrow in F 3 to its proper position as shown in full lines which causes the fluid pressure motor as a whole to be moved bodily out of the vertical plane of the sheathing. The operator now moves the pawls 32 to their releasing positions and moves the lovers 23 to the positions as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, which causes the pressure bars 25 to be moved free of the sheathing.

It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that after the sheathing boards have been forced to their proper positions there will be space 33 between the last sheathing board and the door post of the car. This space is covered by sheathing boards fitted and applied without the use of the device just described.

In the drawings only one sheathing ap plying device has been illustrated but it will be understood that there may be another such device at the other end of the platform to apply the sheathing to the other end of the same side of the car and that there may be the same devices for applying the sheathing to the other side of the car.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device for tightening sheathing boards when applying them to a railway car, a platform, a pressure means mounted 'on said platform for forcing said boards longitudinally of the car into close relation with each other, and pressure means operable from above or below said platform for holding said boards against the superstructure framing of the car as they are moved longitudinally of the car.

2. In a device for tightening sheathing boards being applied to the superstructure framing of a box car, a platform, pressure means mounted on said platform and opera ble in a direction longitudinally of the car for moving a plurality of said boards into close relation with each other, pressure means operable in a direction transversely of the car for holding said boards against lateral bulging as said boards are moved by the first mentioned pressuremeans and a lever extending above and below said platform for operating the second pressure means.

3. In a device for tightening sheathing boards being applied to the superstructure framing of a box car, a platform, a fluid pressure motor on said platform movable into and out of the vertical plane of the sheathing boards of a box car, adapted to engage thela st one of said boards when in vertical alignment therewith and force the edges of said boards into close contact with each other, and a pressure device mounted on said platform and movable relative thereto into and out of engagement with the outer face of said boards, to hold said boards in vertical alignment as they are tightened.

4. In a device for tightening sheathing boards being applied to the superstructure framing of a box car, a platform, pressure means for tightening said boards, mounted on said platform and movable into and out of the vertical plane of said boards, and means mounted on said platform movable into and out of engagement with the faces of said boards, the last mentioned means when in engagement with said boards being adapted to hold said boards against bulging as they are tightened.

5. In a device for tightening sheathing boards being applied to the superstructure framing of a box car, a platform adjacent said car and supported in elevated position substantially midway between the top and bottom of the side wall of said car, a pres sure device on said platform for tightening said boards, said device having a cross head extending above and below said platform adapted to engage one of said boards and a pressure device on said platform adapted to engage the outer face of the sheathing boards to prevent them from buckling as they are tightened.

6. In a device for tightening sheathing boards being applied to the superstructure framing of a box car, a platform, a fluid pressure means on said platform movable into and out of the vertical plane of said boards, said means comprising a cross-head extending above and below said platform adapted to engage the last one of said boards, a second pressure means on said platform for engaging the outer faces of said boards to hold them in vertical alignment as they are being tightened, and a lever for operating the second mentioned pressure means, said lever extending above and below said platform.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK BOGK. 

